News tagged with natural pest

Increasing predator-friendly land can help farmers reduce costs

Having natural habitat in farming areas that supports ladybugs could help increase their abundance in crops where they control pests and help farmers reduce their costs, says a Michigan State University study.

Biology / Ecology

created May 11, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Slug ecology and management in no-till field crops

As acreage of row crops managed with conservation tillage increases, more growers are encountering slugs, elevating their importance as crop pests. Slugs can eat virtually all crops, and they are challenging ...

Biology / Ecology

created Mar 14, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Pesky ants found in Hawaii demonstrate invasive characteristics

A common pest in the mainland United States known for its tropical smell now has a tropical habitat to go along with it.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Nov 01, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Genetic engineers create smarter toxins to help crops fight resistant pests

One of the most successful strategies in pest control is to endow crop plants with genes from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt for short, which code for proteins that kill pests attempting to eat ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Oct 09, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (3) | comments 20 | with audio podcast

Increased insecticide use in the Midwest linked to landscape change

The continued growth of cropland and loss of natural habitat have increasingly simplified agricultural landscapes in the Midwest. A Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) study concluded that this simplification ...

Space & Earth / Environment

created Jul 11, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Cycad pest uses small size to hide from predators

One way to keep from getting eaten is to run. But recent research at the University of Guam's Western Pacific Tropical Research Center shows that sometimes it's better to just hide.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Jun 21, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Household pesticide labels lack details on safe use

Label directions for using some household pesticides are written in a way that may leave consumers with the impression that "if a little is good, more is better," according to a study presented here today ...

Medicine & Health / Health

created Mar 22, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Solving the mystery of the dying bats

Deep in a cave in Mifflin County, Pa., surrounded by icicles and tilted slabs of rock, DeeAnn Reeder shone her headlamp on a tiny bat.

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Feb 01, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 3

Spider mite predators serve as biological control

The control of spider mites, which damage tree leaves, reduce fruit quality and cost growers millions of dollars in the use of pesticide and oil spraying, is being biologically controlled in Pennsylvania apple ...

Biology / Plants & Animals

created Nov 02, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (4) | comments 0

'Killer spices' provide eco-friendly pesticides for organic fruits and veggies

Mention rosemary, thyme, clove, and mint and most people think of a delicious meal. Think bigger…acres bigger. These well-known spices are now becoming organic agriculture's key weapons against insect pests ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Aug 16, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (7) | comments 2

Natural pest control on conventional and organic farms

(PhysOrg.com) -- A study of natural pest control on conventional and organic farms in the southwest has found no difference between the two systems.

Biology /

created Feb 03, 2009 | popularity 3 / 5 (2) | comments 0